Outline quilting
A line of quilting ¼" inside every patch, so each piece is outlined and the seams are left alone. It is the classic way to hand quilt a pieced block, and it avoids sewing through the bulk of the seam allowances.
By Editorial Staff
How to stitch outline
- Mark the lines with ¼" masking tape laid along each seam, or judge them by eye with the edge of the presser foot.
- Quilt around each patch, pivoting at the corners with the needle down. Small triangles may only have room for a few stitches.
Home machine, longarm or by hand
| Level | How | |
|---|---|---|
| Home machine | Beginner | Walking foot |
| Longarm | Intermediate | Rulers |
| By hand | Suits hand quilting | How to hand quilt |
Thread for outline
40 or 50 weight by machine; hand quilting thread by hand.
| Size | Quilt | Stitching | Top thread | Bobbin thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crib | 45" × 60" | 49 yd | 67 yd | 67 yd |
| Throw | 60" × 72" | 78 yd | 108 yd | 108 yd |
| Twin | 70" × 90" | 114 yd | 157 yd | 157 yd |
| Full | 84" × 96" | 146 yd | 201 yd | 201 yd |
| Queen | 90" × 108" | 176 yd | 243 yd | 243 yd |
| King | 108" × 108" | 212 yd | 291 yd | 291 yd |
Stitching is measured on the drawing above at ¼" inside the seams. A lockstitch takes about 1¼" of top thread and 1¼" of bobbin thread for each inch it sews; we add 10% for starts and tails. To check your own machine, sew 12", then measure what came off each spool.
Pick the quilting for your quilt
Quiltspiration lets you choose a quilting design and see it on your quilt, in your fabric.